Tag: Water

“Caught” in the Enterprise Shopping Centre in Eastbourne, which has a number of nice little, independent shops, from crafts and health, to a fishmongers and a butchers. If you’re in the town, take the trouble to wander along and discover it yourself. You’ll find it up behind the railway station.

Spent a grey day in Twickenham, on our current vagabonding experience in the UK….

A bit of a grey day, but thought I’d try the effects on the camera. Swans and pigeons and, of course, Canadian geese!

Just to the right of the shots, is a pub, where many a summer evening was whiled away, as the sun went down, with a pint in hand.

In fact, along the Richmond/Twickenham stretch of the River Thames, many a pub was frequented as we strolled along, or cycled. Not that it’s all about the pubs, but after a days fishing on the water, or a walk on a sunny afternoon, some pub grub and a pint can’t easily be beaten.

"Minack" in Cornish means a rocky place and the black headed crag below the theatre has always drawn local fishermen. Until the 1930’s they had the gorse filled gully to themselves and the cliffs echoed to the cries of gulls not actors. It was Rowena Cade who started this wonderful theatre overlooking Porthcurno Bay and the English Channel. We visited this amazing site whilst on our honeymoon in Cornwall in 1971. It was an overcast day and a bit blustery but nothing spoilt our visit. There is a long history attached to the Minack Theatre and you can read all about it on their website, http://www.minack.com/

Situated near the mouth of the river Adur in West Sussex. The old bridge crossing the river was built in the 18th century and became a great addition to the history and colour of the area. Time and weather had taken its toll on the bridge and a Community Trust was set up in 2001. After restoration it was officially re-opened on 23rd October 2008 by the Duke of York

Looking up at the bridge from the airport (western side)

View downstream

I crossed the bridge many times and was always keen to see if the tide was running in or out. For me this was of great importance, as I needed to make my plans for fishing. Others would stand and watch the flow, swans drifting with the current or wooden planks and logs going down with the tide and perhaps back again as the tide came in. Sometimes we would sit on the grass banks and look on with envy at the adults as they prepared their boats for a fishing trip. When the tide went out there were the mudflats to see and collect some bait. Mud is such glorious stuff, designed for the express purpose of covering young children’s clothes and for sliding and getting generally very mucky. When the mud dried on your clothes you could crack it off and try to remove the stain that remained. The mud also had a distinctive smell which reminded you of the sea that was so very close. The water would flow toward the sea and cause whirlpools when it passed over a rock or obstacle and past a post. Gradually the boats would sink down and settle on the mud. The birds would arrive and wait by the waters edge until the mud flats became exposed then they would dash forward to catch worms or any bugs which had delayed departure. Cars passing in the distance were forgotten and we thought only of how the water moved and the fish we might expect to catch. Dreams would be disturbed by the sound of a small plane as it passed overhead to Shoreham airport and we would turn and watch the landing, then back to the mesmerising flow. In the distance you can see Shoreham, a wonderful place to explore on foot. If you would like to know more of the bridge then have a look at the council site below. http://www.adur.gov.uk/tourism/old-tollbridge.htm

As the clouds dash across the sky the water colour changes with an accentuation of it’s moods. It’s only water you may say, but there is power, as this huge body moves under the influence of tide and wind.

You can always sit and watch the water at any point on the coast of Britain and just observe. The sky touches the horizon and there are dreams about the adventures out there. There is also the fear that goes with the power concealed in that movement. For me it’s the changes that happen in front of you and the smallest detail can become important, but don’t take my word, give it a try.